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{
    "id": 1211791,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1211791/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 210,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Marakwet West, Independent",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Timothy Kipchumba",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Parliament. We shall have 97 Members of Parliament, which is a third, who are women in terms of gender as currently constituted. The proposal by the President is sound. If it is adopted, it will make the equation easier in terms of amending the Constitution to include the gender principle. If the proposal by the President is adopted by this House, it will be progressive. He has provided that the law be amended to include women and political participation fund. Gender inclusion should be progressive and realised at a certain end. The issue of including women in the Constitution shall not be there forever. That is why he has proposed this amendment. I support that there should be a sunset clause to retire it upon attainment of the Constitution requirement. As we retire to amend the Constitution, we should remember to have a sunset clause because there shall come a time that we shall have equality in this country. We shall avoid this agenda of trying to assist the other gender. I fully support that we should entrench the NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund and the NGAAF in the Constitution. The reason for that is that in the event the matter is taken to court, then to amend a legislation or statute is easier than to amend the Constitution. If a question comes concerning the constitutionality of the NG-CDF, the Senate Oversight Fund and the NGAAF, then it may require a referendum in future in order to amend it. That is why I fully support the same. I also support the Senate Oversight Fund. There is a lot of wastage in the counties currently. The Senate will be properly empowered to check the excesses of the county governments. There is the issue of the creation of the office of the official leader of opposition. Mr. Montesquieu talked of separation of powers. He is the father of separation of powers. We have a serious minority in the opposition. For a country to function properly, we must have an office of the leader of opposition to check the excesses of the Government. It is very dangerous to have a Government that is not checked properly. Instead of the leader of opposition going to the streets, let him come to the House and advance the interests of the minorities on the Floor. I support the proposals in totality. My learned senior, Hon. Otiende Amollo, has said that these proposals require a referendum. We can have a parliamentary proposal or one initiated through public initiative. If it is initiated by the House and it is accepted, and it comes to the determination whether we require a referendum, then that matter shall be taken to a referendum, irrespective of where it originates from. Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker. I support the Memorandum."
}